Michigan Road Rage: 2 Drivers Fire Guns in Road Rage

Two Michigan men are dead after pulling guns on each other during a road rage incident on Wednesday night. Police said the dispute began when one car was tailgating another in the town of Ionia, population 11,400.

Both drivers pulled into the parking lot of a local car wash and stepped out of their vehicles, according to ABC affiliate WZZM-TV. Witnesses said the tailgating driver fired first, and the other driver returned fire.

One of the drivers had two passengers in his vehicle, but they weren’t hurt.

When ambulances arrived, the men — Ionia residents James Pullam, 43, and Robert Taylor, 56 — were given medical care and transported to a local hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

Both men fired handguns and had valid licenses to carry concealed weapons, according to authorities, Detroit News said.

In Michigan, anyone over the age of 21 can be issued a concealed carry permit as long as they take a short gun safety class and meet a list of eligibility requirements, which include no felony convictions or mental illness diagnoses.

Police say the shooting stemmed from an earlier confrontation while they were driving in the area.

Investigators say both men had valid licenses to carry concealed weapons. The shooting is under investigation by Ionia police and others.